I’ve been a fan of the Mach series from Hoka since version 4 came on the scene. While it and its successor, the Mach 5, did not last very long, the miles were fun and enjoyable while they lasted.
Durability was greatly improved for the Mach 6, but the ride was noticeably different and turned away some die-hard Mach fans. (Coach Amanda waves her hand here.)
Gone was the soft top layer of EVA over a harder rubberized EVA layer. In its place was a full slab of supercritical EVA and a thin rubber outsole, which improved grip and durability.
I was able to get close to 200 miles on my pair of Mach 6 before I moved on to newer pastures, and I felt like 225 to 250 miles was easily attainable.
The Mach 7 picks up where the 6 left off, with the same supercritical EVA midsole and a slightly less restrictive Creel Jacquard upper. Not much has changed, but as the old saying goes, “if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it!” And that’s exactly what Hoka did with this update.
Who is it Good For?
- Wide Feet: You’ll want to opt for one of the colorways available in a wide, because the standard D width does run narrow.
- Heavier runners: Yes, with its wide base and soft but responsive foam, it’s a good option for heavier runners.
- Long Runs: If you experience significant foot swelling over longer distances I would recommend capping the Mach 7 at about the half marathon distance.
- Front of the pack: It’s fast and responsive enough to be an uptempo daily trainer and tempo/threshold trainer for faster runners.
This daily trainer is ideal for runners who want a lower stack running shoe that can pick up the pace and still feel good for long runs. It’s plenty of cushion without being over built. The Mach will continue to rank high among our top lightweight running shoes.
Hoka Mach 7 Overview
The biggest visual change is lines of the midsole, which have changed only slightly, but they’re more aesthetic and don’t change the character of the midsole.
I thought the midsole on the Mach 7 felt slightly firmer than the Mach 6, and while I donated my old pair I was lucky enough to have a local store with the Mach 6 still on hand to go and confirm my suspicion.
The firmer ride is not a problem, though. There is a subtle bounce after a soft-ish landing that gets you rolling through your stride and on to the next.
I’m either in better shape than I was a year ago (not likely) or the Mach 7’s ability to handle faster short intervals has improved over the Mach 6, which I attributed to the additional firmness of the midsole.
The rocker is not overly pronounced, it’s just enough to assist your stride whether you’re running easy or tempo/threshold efforts.
Recovery runs aren’t what the Mach 7 is best suited for. The shoe, while comfortable, lacks the plush feel in the upper and midsole for those extra easy days.
Additionally, I found I was always either a few seconds faster than the high end of my easy pace range, or mindfully keeping myself 15 to 20 seconds slower than it.
Unless I consciously slowed down to a shuffle I wasn’t really able to cruise along at what felt like a gentle recovery pace. The responsiveness and rocker made it more of a chore to really relax and shuffle along.
I did make an effort to put the Mach 7 through all of my paces during a 9 mile long run starting out at easy pace, progressing to a few miles each at marathon and threshold paces, then a few intervals at interval and repetition paces before one last mile at easy pace to cool down.
The Mach 7 handled all paces with aplomb. I would normally reserve interval and repetition paces for something like the Topo Cyclone or Adidas Takumi Sen, but the Mach 7 did well under those conditions.
I didn’t notice any life-changing grip with the new sticky forefoot rubber, but grip was just as good as the Mach 6, even in the afternoon after a mid-day rain shower.
The rubber outsole along with the exposed sections of the midsole have held up well over the last couple weeks so I expect durability to be just as good as was the Mach 6.
Coach Amanda: I agree the 7 is firmer and this is going to be hit or miss on who enjoys it. While the 6 wasn’t my favorite, I have been running it in quite a bit lately and there’s a noticeable difference in the two shoes. Which do I like better? I don’t know, they almost feel like two different experiences.
The 7 is a firm ride, the 6 is a softer ride, both allow you to pick up the pace, both have the lower stack that I’m currently preferring…tough choice. It’s the same midsole foam, so now I’m wondering if the shoe is just going to feel different when I hit 250 plus miles? As a lighter runner than Tim, I am able to get a longer life span from the shoe.
Compared to recent runs in the Asics Superblast 3 I didn’t know the same tendency to overrun that Tim did. The max cushioned Superblast trainer has that true racing foam which just sort of propelled me, where the Mach I could contain my paces better.
Hoka Mach 7 Specs
- Weight: 7.5 ounces Women’s/ 8.37 ounces Men’s
- Stack Height: 36mm of supercritical EVA for Women’s/ 37mm for Men’s
- Heel to Toe Drop: 5mm
- Available in 7 colorways
- Available in wide in 6 colorways
- Available at hoka.com for $145
Quick Take
Pros
- Responsive cushioning
- Versatile
- Improved grip and durability
Cons
- Narrower fit
- Shorter tongue
- Soft but not plush
Hoka Mach 7 Fit & Feel
Staying true to its performance-oriented roots, the Mach 7 does offer a snug fit. I found the upper on version 7 to be just as soft but more forgiving than version 6.
Foot security is top notch with the narrower fit and gusseted tongue. There is ample padding around the ankle without getting overly crowded and heavy.
The heel counter in the Mach 7 is a little more flexible than its predecessor, and it felt more comfortable without sacrificing hold. The tapered toe box does not offer much wiggle room, but the height on the toe box keeps it from feeling too cramped up front.
The layout of the padding in the gussetted tongue changed from the Mach 6 to the 7, with less padding throughout, but a bit more at the top where you tie the laces.
Hoka decided to cut the tongue on the Mach 7 a few millimeters shorter, and I noticed the laces crept up almost over the tongue on a longer, hilly run.
The Hoka Mach 7 is a performance-oriented lightweight trainer with a faster ride.
Its slightly soft but still responsive foam works well with the rocker to roll you along, no matter what speed you’re running at.
In short, it’s a shoe that you can pair with a big max cushion cruiser and a plated speedier shoe for a very capable three shoe rotation.
And with its improved ability to hit fast intervals you can even save on the plated race shoe or super trainer and run a two shoe rotation if you’re more wallet-conscious.
Coach Amanda: I hate long tongues, so that was an improvement for me. I didn’t notice the laces moving, but mostly because I kind of stopped thinking about the shoe once I put it on. The most ideal running scenario.
Similar Shoes to the Hoka Mach 7
We’ve tested a few light weight daily trainer shoes that feel similar, but different based on the brand fit.
- New Balance Rebel v5 – Lightweight and versatile with a wider base like the Mach 7, but not quite as responsive
- Puma Velocity Nitro 4 – With a similar slim fit and price tag, the Velocity ticks a lot of the same boxes but lacks the assistance of a rocker profile, but has a plate
- Saucony Kinvara 16 – Similar amount of cushion and heel toe drop, another shoe for daily miles than can pick up the pace
Hoka Mach 6 vs 7
As noted if you loved the 5 we haven’t quite made it back there. While they didn’t make any significant changes to the super critical EVA foam the shoe does feel noticeably different when put on next to the Mach 6.
We can’t decide if this is due to a break in needed or if it’s just the additional rubber? Doesn’t entirely make sense to use because the focus of their changes was really around the upper. 
If you find the Hoka Mach 6 on sale we say go for it, unless you enjoy a firmer feel.
The 7 is slightly heavier with a little more outsole coverage for both durability and traction.
The 7 has a more breathable upper.
But for $30-$50, we’d save on the shoe for now and open up those funds for another pair later.
Coach Amanda plans to keep running in both models as a consistent part of her rotation. There’s something to be said for not having a max cushioned shoe on all the time and instead getting back to something a little more responsive even in daily miles.
Our Verdict
We love this lightweight running shoe, but can’t figure out what’s causing it to feel firmer this time around with no particular changes to the foam. It’s a fantastic single shoe option to carry you through daily miles, speed work and up to the half marathon for most runners comfortably.
What to Read Next?
- Cupless Racing 101
- Does it Matter if You Run or Lift First?
- Hoka vs On Running Shoes – which is right for you?
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